Insert tube for tank filling conduit



Feb. 20, 1968 L. D. JOHNSON 3,369,695

INSERT TUBE FOR TANK FILLING CONDUIT I I Filed Oct. 26, 1964 FIG. 3

FIG. 2 I

A TTORNEYS United States Patent O ice 3,369,695 INSERT TUBE FOR TANK FILLING CONDUIT Lloyd D. Johnson, Barnsdall, kla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,309 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-86) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to an insert tube for the filling conduit of a tank, said insert tube comprising an elongated flexible corrugated tube provided with at least one generally longitudinally extending channel means formed along the outer wall surface thereof. In a preferred embodiment one end of said insert tube is defined by an annular shoulder which cooperatively engages a ledge formed in the inner wall of the filling conduit.

This invention relates to an insert tube for a tank filling conduit. In one aspect this invention relates to the venting of tanks during the filling thereof.

Tanks employed as containers for various liquids are often placed in comparatively inaccessible locations. This has resulted in the filling conduit for such tanks being relatively. long and sometimes curved or provided with bends of various shapes. For example, the fuel tank on automobiles is usually located in the rear portion of the vehicle in a lower concealed position. This requires that the tank be provided with a rather long filling conduit which extends up and out through some portion of the automobile body. These practices have created difliculties in filling such tanks. Even when the tank is filled with a nonvolatile liquid, the air displaced by the filling liquid must have an escape route. The difficulties are more severe when the filling liquid is a volatile liquid, such as gasoline, which partially vaporizes during the filling operation because the vapors increase the volume of gases which must be permitted to escape from the tank. Unless the tank is provided with an adequate venting system, the escaping air or vapors flow back through the filling conduit causing splashing and loss of the filling liquid. This is not only wasteful, but in the case of an inflammable liquid, such as gasoline, is hazardous. Furthermore, time is lost during the filling of such tanks because they cannot be filled rapidly. In the past, various means have been employed to eliminate these difficulties. However, none of said means has provided completely satisfactory results.

The present invention provides a solution to the abovedescribed difficulties by providing an improved venting system for tanks. Broadly speaking, the present invention comprises an insert tube which is inserted in the tank filling conduit so as to define (1) an inlet passageway for introducing the filling liquid into the tank, and (2) an outlet passageway for venting air and othergases or vapors from the tank. Said inlet passageway is defined by the inner wall surface of the insert tube. Said outlet passageway is defined by channels formed along the surface of the outer wall of said tube which coact or cooperate with the inner Wall of the tank filling conduit.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved venting system for tanks. Another object of this invention is to provide an insert tube for a tank filling conduit which can be quickly and easily installed in said filling conduit. Another object of this invention is to provide an insert tube for a tank filling conduit which can be inserted in said filling conduit so as to provide an inlet passageway for the filling liquid and an outlet passageway for the gases to be vented from the tank during the filling thereof. Still another object of this invention 3,369,695 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 is to provide an insert tube for a tank filling conduit which can be readily and economically fabricated from plastics or other moldable materials. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in View of this disclosure.

Thus, according to the invention, there is provided an insert tube for the filling conduit of a tank, said insert tube comprising an elongated flexible corrugated tube provided with at least one generally longitudinally extending channel means formed along the outer wall surface thereof.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly in cross-section, of one insert tube in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, partly in crosssection, of another insert tube in acordance with the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, partly in crosssection, of another insert tube in accordance with the invention. 7

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, partly in crosssection, showing a tank, a filling conduit for said tank, and an insert tube in accordance with the invention installed in said filling conduit.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been employed to denote like elements, the invention will be more fully explained. In FIG- URE 1 there is shown a filling conduit insert tube, denoted generally by the reference numeral 10, which comprises an elongated flexible tube and which can be made of plastic or suitable moldable material. An outwardly extending annular shoulder 11 is formed around and defines the inlet end of said tube. A plurality of helical corrugations comprised of alternate ridges 12 and grooves 13 are formed in the wall of and spiral continuously around said tube from adjacent the outlet end 14 thereof to said shoulder 11. Said tubes are fabricated from materials which, dependingupon the wall thickness of the tube, inherently possess a certain amount of flexibility. One purpose of the corrugations formed in the wall of the tube is to increase the flexibility of the tube and to make it more adaptable for bending around the curves or bends which are usually present in tank filling conduits. While said tube has been shown as provided With an extending noncorrugated portion 14 at the outlet end thereof, it is within the scope of the invention to omit this portion 14 of the tube if desired.

Said shoulder 11 at the inlet end of the tube is provided with a plurality of recesses 16 which are formed in the surface of the outer wall of said shoulder. It will be noted that said shoulder has an outer diameter or periphery which is larger than the outer diameter or periphery of the ridges 12 in the corrugated portion of the tube. The purpose of this enlargement of the shoulder will be discussed hereinafter. It will also be noted that each one of said recesses 16 is in individual communication with one of said helical grooves 13 to thus form a plurality of continuous channels which extend along the outer surface of the Wall of the tube. Even though said channels spiral around said tube, it will be noted that they extend in a direction which is generally longitudinal with respect to the tube. While said shoulder 16 has been shown as provided with three recesses therein, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a greater or smaller number of said recesses. If desired, the number of recesses in said shoulder can correspond with the number of grooves in the Wall of the tube. Thus, it is within the scope of the invention to provide said tube with only one groove formed in the outer wall surface and only one recess in the shoulder 16, if desired. It is, however, generally preferred that said tube be provided with a plurality of said continuous channels.

In FIGURE 2 the insert tube, denoted generally by the reference numeral 20, is provided with a wall which is comprised of a plurality of annular corrugations formed of alternate ridges 21 and grooves 22. It will be noted that whereas the corrugations in the tube of FIG- URE l were generally triangular in shape, the corrugations in the tube are generally rounded in shape. It is within the scope of the invention for said corrugations to have any desirable shape, such as rectangular, etc., in addition to those illustrated. An outwardly extending annular shoulder 23 is formed around and defines the inlet end of the tube 20. As in the tube 10 of FIG- URE 1, said shoulder 23 has an outer periphery or diameter which is larger than the outer periphery or diameter of the ridges 21 of the corrugations formed in the wall of the tube. At least one recess 24 is formed transversely of the outwardly extending portion or ridge 21 of the corrugations and communicates with the adjacent grooves 22 which are on either side of said ridge 21. Said recesses 24 are aligned to form a series of recesses which define a channel 26 extending longitudinally along the outer wall surface of the tube. As in the tube of FIGURE 1, said shoulder 23 is provided with a plurality of recesses 27 which are formed transversely of said shoulder in the outer wall surface thereof. Each of said shoulder recesses is aligned with a channel 26 to form a continuous channel which extends throughout the length of the outer wall of the tube. While said tube 29 has been shown as provided with three such continuous channels, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a greater or smaller number of such channels.

In FIGURE 3 the insert tube of the invention, denoted generally by the reference numeral 30, is also provided with a wall comprising a plurality of annular corrugations formed of alternate ridges and grooves. Said tube 30 is also provided with an outwardly extending annular shoulder 31 which, like in the other tubes of the invention, has a larger periphery or diameter than the outer periphery or diameter of the corrugations in the wall of the tube. In the tube of FIGURE 3 the recesses which are formed transversely of the outwardly extending portion or ridge of each corrugation are aligned in groups to form a plurality of subchannels 32, each of which extends longitudinally of the tube. It will be noted that the adjacent ends of said subchannels 32 terminate in a common groove which provides communication between said adjacent subchannels. A plurality of such subchannels 3?. communicating thusly with each other are provided along the outer wall of the tube and thus define a continuous channel along said wall. As in the other tubes of the invention, said shoulder 31 is provided with a plurality of recesses 33 formed transversely in the outer wall surface thereof. Said recesses 33 are in communication with the recess in a ridge adjacent said shoulder, a groove which is adjacent said shoulder, or a subchannel which terminates adjacent said shoulder, and thus complete a continuous channel which extends in a generally longitudinal direction throughout the length of the tube.

In FIGURE 2 the recesses which traverse the ridges 21 of the corrugations have been shown as being aligned throughout the length of the tube. In FIGURE 3 said recesses have been shown as being aligned in groups to form subchannels, It is within the scope of the invention to dispense with the alignment of said recesses. In other words, no alignment of said recesses is necessary. Since each recess communicates with the groove on either side thereof, said recesses can be randomly placed around the tube and the recesses and grooves together will form a continuous channel which, together with a recess or recesses in the shoulder, extends in a generally longitudinal direction throughout the length of the tube. It is preferred, however, that said recesses be aligned in some manner as in FIGURE 2 or in FIGURE 3. Such alignment of the recesses tends to provide a more open channel around the curves and bends formed in the tube when it is installed in a tank filler conduit.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown a tank 40 having a filling conduit 41 connected thereto and in communication with the interior of said tank. Said filling conduit 41 is provided with an enlarged inlet end, the enlargement of which is defined by a ledge 42 formed in the inner wall of said filling conduit adjacent said inlet end. Said inlet end is provided with an inwardly extending flange 43 having bayonet openings 44 therein for receiving the usual bayonet-type cap, not shown. An elongated flexible insert tube ofthe invention is shown disposed within said filling conduit 41. For the sake of simplicity in the drawings, the insert tube shown is the tube 20 illustrated in FIGURE 2. It will be understood, however, that the insert tubes of FIGURES 1 and 3 can also be employed in filling conduit 41. The outwardly extending shoulder 23 of insert tube 20 is in cooperative seating engagement with said ledge 42 and serves to aid in holding the insert tube in place. The outer diameter of the corrugations on tube 20 are substantially the same as the inside diameter of said filling conduit 41 to provide a sliding engagement between the ridges of said corrugations and the inner wall of said conduit. As shown in the drawing, the channel 26, comprising the series of recesses 24 through the ridges of the corrugations and the recess 27 in shoulder 23, form a continuous channel extending from within said' tank 40 to the open inlet of the filling conduit 41. Thus, in operation, liquid to be introduced into tank 40 passes through the passageway defined by the inner wall surface of tube 2! and gases or vapors to be vented from said tank 40 are vented through the channel or passageway 26 formed along the outer Wall surface of said tube 20 and further defined by the inner wall of filling conduit 41.

The insert tubes of the invention can be fabricated from any suitable flexible moldable material such as any of the various commercially available plastics. One presently preferred material is a high density polyethylene made in accordance with the process disclosed and claimed in US. Patent 2,825,721, issued Mar. 4, 1958 to J. P. Hogan et al. Such polyethylenes are commercially available under the trademark Marlex.

While the insert tubes of the invention have been described with particular reference to being employed in filling conduits for fuel tanks on automotive vehicles, the invention is not so limited. The insert tubes of the invention can be employed in combination with the filling conduits for any type of tank used in the storage of any type of liquid.

Also, While said insert tubes have been illustrated as having a generally round or circular shape, the invention is not so limited. Said tubes can have any desired crosssection to conform to the shape or cross-section of the filling conduit in which they are to be employed.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative purposes, the invention obviously is not limited thereto. Various other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. Such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling and venting a tank during said filling, comprising, in combination: a tank; a filling conduit connected to said tank and in communication with the interior thereof; a ledge formed in the inner wall of said filling conduit adjacent the inlet end thereof; an intergral elongated flexible tube having a corrugated wall disposed in said filling conduit, the outside diameter of said tube being substantially the same as the inside diameter of said filling conduit to provide a sliding engagement between the corrugations of said tube and the inner wall of said conduit; an outwardly extending shoulder formed around and defining the inlet end of said tube, said shoulder having a larger periphery than the remainder of said tube said shoulder being in cooperative seating engagement with said ledge formed in the inner wall of said filling conduit; and at least one channel means formed along the outer wall surface of and extending in a generally longitudinal direction throughout the length of said tube, including said shoulder, to provide a vent for vapors from said tank during the filling thereof.

2. Apparatus for filling and venting atank during said filling, comprising, in combination: a tank; a filling conduit connected to said tank and in communication with the interior thereof; a ledge formed in the inner wall of said filling conduit adjacent the inlet end thereof; an integral elongated flexible tube having a corrugated wall formed of alternate ridges and grooves, disposedin said filling conduit, and the outside diameter of said tube being substantially the same as the inside diameter of said filling conduit to provide a sliding engagement between said ridges of the corrugations of said tube and the inner wall of said conduit; at least one recess formed transversely of each said ridge and communicating with the adjacent grooves on either side of said ridge; an outwardly extending shoulder formed around and defining the inlet end of said tube, said shoulder having a larger periphery than the remainder of said tube and said shoulder being in cooperative seating engagement with said ledge formed in the inner wall of said filling conduit; at least one recess formed transversely of said shoulder, said last mentioned recess being in communication with the recess in the ridge adjacent said shoulder to form at least one continuous channel formed along the outer surface of and extending in a generally longitudinal direction throughout the length of said tube, including said shoulder, to provide a vent for vapors from said tank during the filling thereof.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said at least one recess formed transversely of each ridge comprises a series of aligned recesses extending longitudinally along said tube transversely of said ridges; and said recess formed transversely of said shoulder is in communication with said series of recesses to form said continuous channel.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the recesses in a group of adjacent ridges are aligned in a direction extending longitudinally of said tube to form a subchannel, said tube is provided with a plurality of said subchannels the adjacent ends of which terminate in a common groove to provide communication between adjacent subchannels, and said continuous channel is defined by said subchannels and said common grooves.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said corrugated wall of said tube is formed of a plurality of helical corrugations comprised of alternate ridges and grooves formed in the wall of and spiraling continuously around said tube from adjacent the outlet end thereof to said shoulder formed around the inlet end thereof; a plurality of recesses are formed in said shoulder; and each one of said recesses is in individual communication with one of said grooves to form a plurality of continuous channels along the outer surface of the wall of said tube.

6. A filling conduit insert comprising: an integral elongated fiexible tube having a corrugated wall formed of alternate ridges and grooves extending around said tube; a shoulder formed around and defining the inlet end of said tube, said shoulder extending outwardly in an essentially' perpendicular direction from the outer wall surface of said tube and having a larger outer periphery than the remainder of said tube; and at least one channel means formed along the outer wall surface of and extending in a generally longitudinal direction throughout the length of said tube, including said shoulder; said tube having a substantially uniform internal cross section throughout its length.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,465 8/1902 De St. Legier 141-297 X 2,165,357 7/1939 Emmert 22086 2,837,121 6/1958 Roberts 138-122 X FOREIGN PATENTS 20,282 11/1900 Great Britain.

0 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

BRADFORD KILE, Assistant Examiner. 

